The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 6:1-11, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain–
2 for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION “–
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,
10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.”

If you believe these eleven verses from Paul are long and tedious reading, you have
a snapshot of my first public sermon. I was eager and overly well prepared. The audience
expected a rather brief, maybe 15-minute, address from this teenage boy. Unless my
octogenarial years have distorted my memory, I spoke for some 45 minutes! My pastor,
who has now been long with the LORD, had some choice words, doubtlessly intended
as encouragement.

What has the Scripture above to do with the timing of my first sermon? Perhaps, it’s that
last verse: “Our mouth has spoken freely…our heart is opened wide.” My defence to my
pastor was that the Apostle Paul spoke quite long (Acts 20:9). It’s sufficient to say that his rebuttal was pointedly instructive. All of that being said, I should note that the Scripture above speaks of the day of salvation and quite pointedly notes that it (was) Paul’s responsibility to lead others to Jesus and to teach us to do so as well.

The day in which we are living is quite parallel with the day of Paul. Sin is rampant! Evil
permeates the world in which we live. People are lost; and the Holy Spirit lives and works in and through believers to bring the lost to faith in Jesus Christ. You know people who are lost. So do I. Let’s pray for one another and be prepared to reach those who need to know Him.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 28:1-7. “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking
for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where
He was lying.
7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold,
He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him, behold, I have told
you.”

This passage of Scripture always brings to mind my first solo visit to Israel. I had
visited the Garden Tomb and returned to my living quarters, when I encountered
a Canadian Military Officer, who told me he visited Israel every year. He insisted
on showing me the Garden Tomb, despite my having already been there.

Subsequently, I yet again visited the Garden Tomb –this time alone. It was quiet;
no one else was there. I entered the Tomb, sat quietly and allowed my mind to
recall the Scriptures that placed the LORD Jesus right there, centuries past. I
tried to pray, but my emotions resisted even prayer. Yet, what I envisiioned that
day was related only to that glorious time when Jesus arose. Then and there,
He was not there. He had risen!

Now, I am awaiting another glorious time! He is returning home to this Earth—not
to the Tomb He once briefly occupied, but in the air! –coming from His glorious
Heavenly Home, where we, who have trusted Him as LORD and Savior of our
lives, will be caught up to meet Him. ”…and so we shall always be with the LORD”
(2 Cor. 12:2, 4; 1 Thes. 4:17). What a glorious, breath-taking experience that will
be!

Like the Garden Tomb I visited, this glorious rising to meet Him in the air is more
glorious still. Besides, it’s free! Jesus Himself paid the price at the Cross many
years ago. He has given us the opportunity to meet Him in the air when He comes
again. The only “cost” to us lies in our confessing our sin and accepting Him by faith
as our LORD and Savior. You can do that, if you haven’t already! It’s important to
be ready, because we do not and cannot know the precise time of His Coming.
That’s why the Scriptures say, “Today is the Day of Salvation.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 16; 17-21, “So Saul said to his servants, ‘Provide for me now a man
who can play well and bring him to me.’
18 Then one of the young men said, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one
prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.’
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me your son David who
is with the flock.’
20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat,
and sent them to Saul by David his son.
21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly,
and he became his armor bearer.”

It’s extremely interesting how some people come to be what they are and to
know the people they know. Perhaps, that’s one of the reasons why these do
so well with the LORD’s assignments here. The young man who mentioned David
is not himself mentioned by name. Certainly, that does not make him of any
lesser value; it simply demonstrates his desire to help.

Often in situations comparable to this one, people who help are often hoping
above all that they might be elected to the position instead of the one who is
ultimately chosen. In such cases, it’s then quite easy to see through the motives.

We must be honest in our evaluation of others and especially of ourselves!
The LORD knows us quite thoroughly. He wants those who are “available,
but not pushy.” He and others are quite capable of tooting their own horns.
We must always prayerfully focus on the spiritual task at hand.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

James 5:17-20, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly
that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul
from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Reading the short passage above several times, I could not clear my mind of the
phrase, “Elijah…with a nature like ours…” That means that Elijah was human. That
is all. He was not super-human, just human, no more, no less than you and I.

Have you ever thought of yourself as possessing a nature like the prophet Elijah?
That’s heavy stuff! But James is saying that we have the same abilities as Elijah!
He prayed specifically for rain to come and cease — and the rain occurred and
ceased –right on time! How did he do it? Is it possible for us to do the same?

First of all, Elijah was sold out to the LORD! We have to be something before the
LORD can do anything through us. Too often we just mosey along through life
not thinking about prayer until something catastrophic occurs; then we get all
excited and urge everyone to pray!

That’s like a small boy who ignores the coach’s order to practice until a few
moments before the game! Then, who’s surprised that he strikes out! Let’s be
honest: most of us don’t really pray until something gargantuan comes along;
then we find ourselves behind the curve.

James’ advice is that we not stray from the truth, and that we endeavor to turn a
sinner from his errors and lead him to faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Think of
this as GOOD NEWS for yourself as well as for the one you’ve led to Christ.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

James 5:14-16, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you
may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

It is indeed unfortunate that in a day of such enormous gains in the field of medical science, we have lost sight of many spiritual things, especially that of prayer.

Sickness is often, but not always, the result of sin. Sometimes sickness exists that the LORD may assess where and how often we seek out only a remedy ministered by a physical doctor. Don’t get me wrong! I am not prejudiced in any way, shape or form against what medical science has produced for humanity’s mutual benefit. My late wife experienced an extention of physical life through the able assistance of the medical community. Nevertheless, her trust in the medical realm was exceeded by her trust in the LORD God Almighty!

Why does it so often take physical illness to bring us to the brink of serious, spiritual prayer? Perhaps it is to draw us closer to the Great Physician Himself. It is often disapointing to hear a doctor say, “We’ve done everything we can…” Perhaps it’s even more disapointing for us to say, “We’ll just have to pray.” We must remember that it is “the prayer offered in faith” that “will restore the one who is sick.” It is the LORD Himself, who can resurrect the sick. One day, too, He will resurrect from the grave all those who have believed in Him!

Reading the Scriptures gives us the hope of the Resurrection! Jesus Himself
arose from the dead! And one day (perhaps, not so far in the future), He will visibly Return and we will understand how “faith” makes us free indeed!

As I pen this Grands Letter, my sweet sister, Carol, is tottering under illness,
with her husband seriously ill in hospital. Our entire family would sincerely
appreciate your prayers for Garrett and Carol Conner, who through spirtual, Christian music have have brought joy and hope to thousands. Thank you for
your faithfulness.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom